Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Saturday, January 20, 2001
There was no danger of the lights going out last night at the Blaisdell Arena with the Chaminade basketball team's poor shooting, but the Silverswords hit their target enough for a victory. Silverswords edge
Sea Warriors in OTBy Brandon Lee
Special to the Star-BulletinChaminade (9-6, 3-3) evened its record in the Pacific West Conference by picking up its second conference victory with a 109-105 overtime win over Hawaii Pacific University (7-8, 2-4) before a crowd of 425.
The Silverswords shot only 38 percent in the first half and 41 percent for the game. But they did not wilt down the stretch on HPU's home court, something they had done often in the past.
"I told my guys I credit their big hearts," Chaminade coach Aaron Griess said. "This is a nice win for our program and our kids."
The biggest lead in the contest was only seven, reached twice by the Silverswords after halftime.
"Every year, Chaminade gets a lead when we come down here and we lose it in the second half," Griess said. "But our guys hung in there and wouldn't take no for an answer."
Chaminade held a six-point advantage with under a minute left in the first half. But HPU reserve point guard Michael Paul scored five points in the final 15 seconds to bring the Sea Warriors within one at 42-41 at the break.
Paul had career-highs in points (18) and assists (8), and also tied a school record for consecutive free throws made by stroking his first 13 shots from the charity stripe. But it all went for naught, due to sloppy ballhandling and poor defense by HPU.
The Sea Warriors committed 23 turnovers -- 15 in the first half -- and gave up just as many rebounds (24), as they pulled down on the defensive side of the court.
"Maybe 15 or 16 of those turnovers were unforced," HPU coach Tony Sellitto said. "We've done this the last few games and it's very disturbing. We just cannot keep doing this because we shoot the ball very well."
Sellitto and the Sea Warriors must do more than shoot the ball well in a hurry, as they have a rematch with the Silverswords tonight at McCabe Gymnasium.
Chaminade shooting guard C.J. Cowgill poured in a game-high 36 points, despite starting out cold like his teammates. He did not hit a basket until 7:40 left in the first half, but carried the Silverswords in the second and overtime periods.
Cowgill hit a jumper in the lane with 10 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 93 and send the game to the extra period. In overtime, he made all eight of his free throws (14-for-14 on night) to seal the victory.
"I just wanted to do whatever it took to win," Cowgill said. "We needed this win to get back in the mix of things. (Sellitto) said that we always fade off as the season goes on, but coach Griess and the new guys, we want to start a new dynasty here."
Hawaii Pacific
Chaminade